Floating sectional dry dock.



No. 657,660. v Patented Sept. II', |900'. W. JAMIESON.

FLATING SECT-IDNAL DRY DUCK.

(Epplication filed Dec. 26, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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FLDATING SECTIOHAL DRY DUCK.

(Application led Dac. 26, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VE N T019 1H: Norms mins co6. Novo-umn. wAsnmm'oN. u. c.

Patented Sept. Il, |900.

W. JAMIESN. FLOATING SECTINAL DRY DUCK.

(Application led Dec. 26, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' 1 x L J (No Model.)

/NVE/VTOH m TNE SSE S A 77`OHNEYS MED STATES PATENT OFFICEi WALTER JAMIESON, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

FLOATING SECTIONAL DRY DOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,660, dated September 11, 1900.

Application filed December 26, 1899. Serial No. 741,640. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER JAMIEsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floating Sectional Dry Docks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in iioating sectional dry docks by which some of the sections of' the same can be used for repairing any part of a steam or other vessel whenever it should be necessary to get atit from the outsidesuch as repairs to the sea-valves, propeller, or other parts-without sending the vessel into dry dock.

The invention is more especially designed as an improvement to the floating sectional dry dock for which I have made application forLetters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 712,869, filed April 13, 1899, renewed, Serial No, 741,675, iiled December 26, 1899, so that the scope of the dry dock is enlarged and the same rendered more useful for purposes of repairs. For this purpose the invention consists in providing one or more sections of my sectional dry dock with an apron applied to one 01 both ends, said apron being formed of two superposed layers of planks, which are bolted to the end walls of said sections and composed of a bottom or keel portion and two movable side portions,which latter are hinged to the ends of the keel portion, so as to permit the opening and closing of the same in connection with suitable hoisting devices. The inner edge of the apron is provided with a hose packing set into a face-groove of the apron-planks, as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an end elevation of one of the sections of my improved sectional dry dock shown with my improved apron ready to be applied to the hull of a vessel. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing the section after being applied to the hull. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section. Figs. 4 and 5 are end elevations of the middle and a stern section of the dry dock shown with a plating or bulkhead on that end to which the apron is to be applied. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of one of the middle sections shown from the opposite section is formed of rectangularly-connected side and bottom walls and an interior wall of approximately U shape, said walls being formed of strong boiler metal and closed at the top, so as to form a floating structure which can be submerged to a greater or less extent into the water.

The floating section A is provided, preferably at one end, with an apron B, which is formed of two superposed layers l) l) of planks,

` one layer breaking joint with the other layer,

said planks beingbolted to aplatingand bulkhead on the end wall of the floating section A, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The fioating dry-dock section A, which is to be provided with an apron or aprons B, has a plated bulkhead O at that end to which the apron B is to be applied. The upper edge of the bulkhead O is below the top of the keelstocks. In the bulkhead O are arranged tapholes d for screwing in stud-bolts d, by which the apron B is screwed tightly to the end wall of the section A. The tap-holes in the plating are preferably packed by interiorly-tl1readed bosses d2, of brass or composition metal, at the inside ot' the bulkhead, which are indicated by dotted lines in Figs. l and 4, said tapholes and bosses receiving the endsof the stud-bolts d without going through the bosses d2. The opposite end wall of the floating seetion A is provided with a packing O, which is composed of wooden plan ks running along the end wall of the section, said planks being retained between angle-irons O2, bolted to the end wall and provided with a face-groove in which a specially-prepared tubular hose packing is placed. When several floating sections are assembled and coupled together and placed in position on the hull, the hose packing is inflated by pumping water or air into TOO the same, so that the intiated packingforms a tight joint between the sections. The-layers of planks are connected at their inner ends by means of straps b', which are bolted to both layers of planks, and a second set of straps b2, slotted at one end, which extend across the outer layer of planks to headedlbe applied to a vessel air or water is charged into the hose, whereby the same is inflated with a stronger pressureV than that of the springs, so as to cause the hose to form a water-tight joint with the hull and bilge-keels. As the layers of planks are made to break jointand as the apron projects beyond the inner wall of the fioating section and bulkhead to a point approximately level with the upper surface of the keel-blocks, as shown in Fig. 3, the water is prevented from entering into the space between the hull of the`vessel and the inner wall of the floating section when the same is applied to the hull of the vessel. The inner layer of planks is provided at the curved ends with wedge-shaped filling-pieces g, so as to produce the tight closingr of the inner layer of planks. The apron is cornposed of three main portions-a keel portion B' and two movable side portions B2, the latter being connected by a hinge-joint g with thev ends of the keel portion. In other respects the side portions are constructed in the same manner as the keel portion of the apron. The side portions are adapted to be swung inwardly or outwardly on the hinge-joints, so

ythat when the floating section is applied to the hull of the vessel they can be applied by suitable hoisting devices to the hull or removed from the same. The adjacent ends of the keel portion B and side portions B2 are cut 0E to furnish the required'recesses for the bilge keels and provided with metalsheathed blocks t' for the hoisting-ropes i', by which the side portions are applied tightlyto the bilge-keels and sides of the hull, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The hoisting-ropes are applied to blocks i2 on the top of the section A l when the side portions are in the outwardlyopened position, or applied to the hull, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One hoisting-rope t" serves for producing the tight connection between the keel and side portions, While the second rope t4 serves for holding the side sections either in their outward or inward positions.

The ltioating section may be provided with an apron at each end, or one section A may be provided with an apron at one end, while a second or third section coupled therewith may be provided with a similar apron at its opposite, end, in which case the two or more sections will be connected together, so as to form one structure, which is then applied to the hull. This is accomplished by permitting a sufficient quantity of water to enter into the floating section so as to submerge the'sametoa greater depth than the hull and then moving the floating section or sections along.l below the hull of the vessel until they arrive at the place which is to be repaired. Then a sufficient quantity of water is pumped yout. until the apron. abuts against the hull. `The hinged side portions are then drawn tight against the opposite sides of the hull.

The quantity of water between the hull of the vessel and the inner wall of the floating section is then removed by the pumps, so

4that a spaceis formed between the hull and the inner wall of the floating section by which vaccess is given to the hull for repairing any parts which are out of order. The apron preivents the ingress of water, as the joints of the layers and the packing render the same perfectly water-tight, so that no water can leak through into the space inclosed by it, which is kept perfectly dry while making the necessary repairs. The apron has sufficient flexibility to adapt itself to the shape of the keel and permits thereby the use of a single iioating section or of two or more sections coupled together to form a repair dry dock ,whenever portions of the vessel have to be repaired, which sections can be easily applied without using the remaining sections Vthat make up the dry dock. The use of the apron in. connection with one or more floaty ing sections facilitates thereby repairs to porftions ofthe hull of the vessel to which access 1 canV only be had from the outside, and forms thereby a very useful attachment to my im- `proved floating dry dock by which vessels can be repaired without going into dry dock. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. The combination, with a ioating drydock section formed of a closed approximately U -shaped body provided with keel-blocks on yits inner wall, of an apron attached to the t end wall of said body and extending beyond the edge of the inner Wall of the same to a point approximately on a level with the keelblocks of said body, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a floating dryj dock section formed of a closed approximately U-shaped body, of an apron attached at its outer portion to the end wall of said body and extending beyond the inner wall of the same, said apron being formed of two superposed layers of planks, straps connecting the inner ends of said layers with each other, and straps for connecting the outer ends of said layers with each other, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a ioating dry` dock section formed of a closed approximately U -shaped body, of an apron applied to the end wall of the same and extending beyond the in- IIO IIL;

ner Wall of said section, said apron being composed of two superposed layers of planks attached to the end wall and connected at their inner ends and outer ends by suitable connecting-straps, the inner layer of planks being provided at their curved portions with wed ge-shaped lillng-pieces, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a floating drydock section formed of a closed approximately U-shaped body, of an apron attached to and projecting beyond the inner Wall of the same, said apron being formed of a middle or keel portion and side portions hinged to the ends f of the keel portion, means for strapping the side portions to the hull, and means for suspending the hinged side portions either in outward or inward position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a iioating drydock section,tormed of a closed approximately U-shaped body, of an apron, attached to the end wall of the section and composed of two superposed layers of planks, one of said layers being provided with a hose packing at its inner edge, substantially as set t'orth.

6. The combination, With a floating drydock section formed of a closed body of approximately U shape, of a plated bulkhead attached to one end Wall of the same, and an apron, attached to said bulkhead and projecting over the inner edge of said bulkhead and section, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a floating drydook section formed of a closed body of approximately U shape, of an apron attached to one end wall ot the saine, and a hose packing attached to the outer face of the opposite end Wall of the same,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, With a floating drydock section formed of a closed body of approximately U shape, of a plated bulkhead attached to one end Wall of said section, an apron attached to said bulkhead and a hose packing attached to the opposite end wall of the section, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a iioating drydock section formed of a closed approximately U-shaped body, of an apron formed of a double layer of superposed planks and composed of a middle or keel portion and hinged side portions, hoisting-ropes for securing said side sections in inwardly-raised or outwardlyopened position, sheave-blocks on the adjacent ends of said keel and side portions and blocks on the top of the section for attaching said hoisting-ropes, substantially as set forth.

l0. A iloatingdry-dock section provided on one end wall with a hose packing composed of a grooved plank, angle-irons attached to the end Wall for supporting said plank, and an inflatable hose-packing retained in the groove of the planks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

` WALTER JAMIESON. Vitnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL,

J. H. NILEs. 

